Legal Notices-Government

Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia and Socorro are the counties affected by the changes proposed to the storage and diversion of water in the subject application. This notice is ordered to be published in the Rio Grande Sun, Santa Fe New Mexican, Albuquerque Journal, Valencia County News-Bulletin and El Defensor Chieftain.

The applicant proposes to temporarily discontinue the storage and diversion of up to 60,000 acre-feet of surface water within El Vado Reservoir, on land owned by the MRGCD, at a point where X = 1,498,930 feet and Y = 2,035,383 feet, New Mexico State Plane, Central Zone, NAD 83, Rio Arriba County, for the irrigation of the MRGCD service area, consisting of MRGCD Maps 1 through 179, within Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia and Socorro counties.

The applicant further proposes to commence temporary storage of said surface water in Abiquiu Reservoir, on land owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at a point where X = 1,589,445 feet and Y = 1,906,684 feet, New Mexico State Plane, Central Zone, NAD 83, Rio Arriba County, to be stored and diverted for the irrigation of the MRGCD service area, described above.

Application is filed with request for emergency authorization to change point of diversion and storage to Abiquiu Reservoir under SP-1690 while El Vado Dam is under rehabilitation, in accordance with Section 72-5-25 NMSA 1978.

Application is made for a permit that, if granted, would expire on December 31, 2025. Upon termination or expiration of the desired permit, the subject water will automatically revert to the move-from point of diversion pursuant to the applicable provisions in that permit.

To view the application and supporting documentation contact the State Engineer District Office to arrange a date and time for an appointment located at 5550 San Antonio Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.

Any person, firm or corporation or other entity asserting standing to file objections or protests shall do so in writing (objection must be legible, signed, and include the writer’s complete name, phone number, email address, and mailing address). If the protest does not include the complete name, phone number, email address, and mailing address, it may be deemed invalid and not accepted for filing unless Protestant provides with the protest an affidavit stating that it does not have one of the above-listed elements/requirements (phone number, mailing address, email address, etc.). The objection to the approval of the application must be based on: (1) Detriment; if detriment, you must specifically identify your water rights; and/or (2) Public Welfare/Conservation of Water; if public welfare or conservation of water within the state of New Mexico, you shall be required to provide evidence showing how you will be substantially and specifically affected. The written protest must be filed, in triplicate, with the State Engineer, 5550 San Antonio Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, on or before May 6, 2022. Facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted as a valid protest if the hard copy is hand-delivered or mailed and postmarked within 24-hours of the facsimile. Mailing postmark will be used to validate the 24-hour period. Protests can be faxed to the Office of the State Engineer, 505-383-4030. If no valid protest or objection is filed, the State Engineer will evaluate the application in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 72 NMSA 1978.